Means for feeding and treating material



Aug. 18, 1925. 1,549,970

I. E. HALL MEANS FOR FEEDING AND T REAT ING MATERIAL Filed Feb. 6, 1925 HORSE PUWfR INVENTOR BY #M, g *QM ,Az A rlwavs Patented Aug. 18, 1925.

, UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

IRVING E. HALL, BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, .ASSIGNOR TO ROLLER-SMITH COM- IPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MEANS FOR FEEDING AND TREATING MATERIAL.

Application filed February 6, 1925. Serial No. 7,338.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRVING E. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bethlehem, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Feeding and Treating Material,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for treating material by pulverizing machines, grinders, crushers, mixers and the like; and particularly relates to the control of the feed of material to machines of that character. In such machines, it is desirable that their load shall be maintainedv substantially constant, both from the standpoint of insurin proper treatment of the material and also for insuring operation of the apparatus at maximum efficiency and at efiicient maxi mum capacity. This is accomplished by regulating the feed of the material to the machine, reducing the feed when the treating machine is loaded beyond proper capacity and increasing the feed of the material when the treating machine is operating below proper load.

The principal object of the present invention is to secure efficie'nt and dependable control of the material fed to the machine in accordance with the requirements; and to accomplish this by controlling means, which is automatic and of a simple form of construction, and also reliable and durable in operation. Another object is to provide readily adjustable means for insuring the control within any controlling limits desired for the particular character of thematerial to be treated and to insure dependable operation within the limits desired to as refined and sensitive a degree of accuracy as may be required. Another important object is to provide controlling means of a character which will not only serve to secure the desired regulation, but will also serve as indicating means to the operator showing the conditions and the power consumed, without the necessity of additional or auxiliary indicating instruments. any invention will be understood from the following description and accompanying drawing.

The, drawing is a diagram indicating the apparatus for treating the material and also Other objects and advantages 0t the controlling and regulating apparatus in a preferred form thereof.

The-treating machine is indicated by the reference character 1 and is conventionally shown as having a receiving hopper 2. This machine is shown as being driven by a belt -3 from an electric motor 4. The material to be treated is supplied from a receiving chute or hopper 5 to a table 6. The table is supported on a Vertical shaft 7 and is adapted to be revolved so that the material indicated at 8 is carried by the table from the bottom of the hopper 5 and forced against a radially extending plate or scraper 9 positioned on the opposite side of the feed table 6 from the hopper 5. As the material strikes the stationary scraper 9 it is guided into the hopper 2 over the edge of the feed table. Although I have illustrated this form of means for supplying the material to the treating machine, yet

feed motor and the shaft 7 is indicated as comprising cooperating ,ibevel gears 11,

which drive the shaft'12, which in turn drives the vertical shaft '1 through the cooperating bevel gears 11. In the present instance the power is assumed to be derived from three phase supply lines 13 13 and 13, although this invention is applicable to the use of alternating current supply of any phase and likewise to a direct current supply. The three phase power lines. are shown as leading to the three phase motor 4', which operates continuously while the apparatus is being used. The feed motor 10 however, is controlled for regulating the supply of material to the treating machine; and is shown as being started and stopped by the closing'and opening of a switch 1% in the circuit of the three phase lines which supply the three phase feed motor. Thus theswitch 1,4 has its three movable contact elements connected to the three phase lines leading to the feed motor and the three stationary contacts of the switch 14 are connectedrespectively to the three phase supply lines. The 'switch ll'is shown in its open position and is biased to its open .po-

sition by gravity or spring pressure or both, as is customary in automatic switches. The switch 14 is adapted to be automatically closed when the coil 14* is energized, as it then attracts the armature 14 carried by the movable part of the switch; and will hold the switch closed as long as the coil 14 is energized; but when the coil 14 is deenergized, the switch will assume its biased open position and cause the feed motor to be stopped.

The excitation and deenergization of the coil 14.- are controlled by relay switch 15 which is snapped to closed and to open position by movement of arm 16 of the relay. The switch arm 15 is indicated as pivoted at its center, the upper portion carrying a contact 15 adapted to engage an adjustable fixed contact 15. The fixed contact 15 is connected to one of the supply lines and the movable contact 15 and arm 15 is connected to another of the supply lines through the actuating coil 14* of the feed motor switch.

The lower end of the movable element 15 of the relay switch is mechanically connected by a spring 17 to the upper end of the arm 16, the latter arm being shown pivoted at its lower end. The relation of the arms 15 and 16 to each other and to their pivots is such that when the arm 16 is thrown to the left from the position shown in the drawing, the upper end of spring 17 will be carried across the arm 15 and thus by its over center movement will cause the spring 17 tosnap the switch arm 15 to closed position and will hold the switch arm 15 firmly in closed position against the fixed contact 15 and thereby insure a quick and firm closure of the circuit of the coil 14" whenever the relay switch is closed. Similarly when the arm 16 is moved from its left-hand position to the position shown in full lines in the drawing, the switch arm will be snapped quickly to its open position and firmly held in its open position until again closed.

The arm 16 of the relay is controlled by a pair of relay magnets 18 and 18 on opposite sides respectively of the arm 16. The arm 16 serves as a common armature for the two relay magnets, being attracted to the position shown in the drawing when the relay 18 is excited and being attracted to its lefthand position when the relay magnet 18 is excited. In the position shown in full lines in the drawing, the line of action of spring 17 is to the right of the pivot of the arm 16 and the arm 16 will thus be held in the position shown by the spring, even though the coils of relay magnet 18 are deenergized. "When the arm 16 is swung to the left by the excitation of the coils of relay 18 and thus cause the movement of the relay switch arm as above explained, the line of action of the spring 17 is carried to the left of the pivot. of arm 16 and thus cause the-arm 16 to be held in its left-hand position even which may be of any of the usual types,

such as the induction type or dynamometer type, with the provision, however, of special movable and fixed contact making and current conducting elements. This indicating and controlling instrument is shown as hav ing an indicating scale 19 and a movable pivoted pointer 20, the latter however, being current conducting and carrying a contact 21. The pointer 20 is mounted on the pivoted shaft 20 of the instrument. On each side of the indicating pointer 20 is located a conducting element 22 and 22 each of which carries a contact 22 adapted to be engaged by the contact 21. The conducting elements 22," and 22 may have the same pivotal center as the indicating element 20 or a center somewhatoffset therefrom as indicated and are adapted to be adjusted manually about their pivots to any desired position according to the requirements of the particular material treated and the work to be accomplished. The indicating element 20 is electrically connected to the supply line 13 Each of the conducting elements 22 and 22 is electrically insulated from each other and from the pointer 20, the element 22 being connected to the coils of relay magnet 18 and thence to the supply line 13 whereas the element 22 is connected to the coil relay 18 and thence to the supply line 13. The indicating element 20 of the instrument is controlled in its position by current and potential coils in the same way as the indicating element of a wattmeter; and in the present instance, this is accomplished by current coils 23 and 23 and by potential coils 24 and 24*, which are conventionally indicated in the drawings. The current coils are indicated as being stationary and the potential coils as being mounted between them and carried'by the shaft 20. The current coils 23 are supplied by current from the secondary of a current or series transformer 25 subjected to current passing in supply line 13 to the motor 4; and the current coils 23 are connected to the secondary of aseries or current transformer 25 subjected to the current supplied to motor 4 through the supply line 13". The potential coil 24 is connected across supply lines 13 and 13"; and the potential coil 2t" is connected across the supply line 13 and lit) instrument. The scale 19 may be marked to k1lowatts, or'H. P. as may be indicate watts,

' desired.

- the contact tween the two elements 22* and i the limits for Assume, as an example, that the capacity of the machine 1 is such that it operates most efiicicntly at a load of 100 H. P. on the motor 4, and that it is desired that the variation in this load shall not be more than 5% above or 5% below this amount. The element 22 will then be manually adjusted on the scale at the value of 105 H. P. and the element 22 will be adjusted manually to the position of 95 H. P. on the scale. As long as the power consumed by the motor 4 is within the limits stated, the pointer 20 will occupy an intermediate position be- 22", and will at the same time indicate the actual power being consumed by the motor. If, however, the motor load increases sufficiently, due to the feed motor supplying too much material to the machine 1, the pointer 20 will be moved to the right until its contact engages 9.2 of the element 22". This closes a circuit from supply line 13 through the pointer 20 and through element 22 to the coils of relay magnet 18 and thence to the supply line 13". This energizes the relay magnet 18 which throwing the relay switch to open position shown in full lines in the drawing. This opens the circuit through the coil 1 E of the feed motor switch, which releases the switch 14 and permits it to move to the open position shown. This, of course, stops the feed motor and causes a reduction of load on the motor 4:. As the load reduces, the pointer 20 moves to the left and finally engages contact 22 of element 22. This closes a circuit from the supply line 13* through the pointer 20, element 29., through relay coil 18 to supply line 13 and causes armature 16 to be attracted from the position shown in full lines and thus close the circuit through the switch coil 14*. This causes the closure of the feed motor switch and again starts the feed motor, which again feeds the material to the treating machine.

This action will continue until the load upon the power motor t has increased to the maximum of 105 H. P. when the action previously described will again occur. Thus it is evident that the controlling mechanism will keep the load on the power motor within which the elements 22 and 22 are set; and the controlling instrument will also indicate the operating condition and amount of power being used. Moreover, the control is made definite in its action at the particular points desired and causes the relay contacts to act quickly in closing and in opening the controlling coil of the feed then attracts the arm 16,

motor switch, the relay contacts and the feed motor switch contacts being held firm- 1y closed when closed and avoiding chattering and uncertainty of operation.

While I have described one embodiment of my in\'cntion, it is evident that various modifications may be made thereinwvithout. departing from the scope thereof.

I claim I 1. The combination with a machine for treating material, of a motor for controlling the load on said machine, and an indicating instrument for indicating the load on said machine, said instrument having means for automatically controlling said motor.

2=The combination with a machine for treating material, of a motor for controlling the supply of material to said machine, and means for controlling thespeed of said motor, said means also indicating the load on said i'nachine.

3. The combination with a machine for treating material, of a motor for controlling the supply of material to said machine, a power indicating instrument, and means comprising a snap switch for controlling said motor, said means being controlled by said instrument.

4. The combination with a machine for treating material, of a motor for controlling the supply of material to said machine, and electromagnetic means for controlling said motor, said means comprising circuit making and circuit breaking contacts automatically controlled by the load on said machine and a snap switch for controlling said motor.

- 5. The combination with a machine for treating material, of a motor for controlling the supply of material to said machine,

.an electromagnetic switch for controlling said motor, an electromagnetic snap relay for controlling said switch, and an instrument for indicating the load on said machine, said' instrument also controlling the action of said relay.

6. The combination with a machine for treating material, of a motor for controlling the supply of material to said machine, electromagnetic means fpr controlling said motor, and an instrument for controlling said means according to the power on said machine, said instrument having manually adjustable elements for limiting maximum and minimum load on said machine.

7. The combination with a machine for treating material, of a motor for controlling the supply of material to said machine, an electromagnetic switch for starting and stopping said motor, an electromagnetic relay for controlling the closing and opening of said switch, and a power indicating instrument for controlling said relay according to the load on said machine, said instrument having a conducting indicating pointer,

an adjustable contact element on one side of chine and responsive to predetermined mini- 2 said pointer and an adjustable contact elemum Watts taken by said first named motor ment on the opposite side of said pointer. for causing said second named motor to in- '8. The combination with a machine for crease the supply of material to said matreating material, of an electric motor forchine. g driving said machine, a second motor for 10. The combination with a machine for 25 controlling the load on said machine and treating material, of an electric motor for first named motor, and means for a'utomatdriving said machine, a second motor for ically controlling said second named motor, supplying material to said machine, and said means being controlled by the Watts means responsive to predetermined maxitaken by the first named motor. mum watts taken by said first named motor 30 9. The combination'with a machine for for automatically stopping said secondtreating material, of an electric motor for named motor for decreasing the supply of driving said machine, a second motor for material to said machine and responsive to] 4 supplying the material to said machine, and predetermined minimum watts'taken by said means responsive to predetermined maxifirst named motor for automatically start- 35 mum Watts taken by said first named motor ing said second named motor for increasfor causing said second named motor to deing the supply 'of material to said machine. crease the supply of material to said ma IRVING E. HALL. 

